The city of
Laodicea is an ancient city of western Asia
Minor in present-day western Turkey. The
Seleucids built Laodicea in the third century
B.C., and it was a prosperous Roman market town
on the trade route from the East. Laodicea was
an early center of Christianity. The following
is an article by Phil Logan in Holman’s Bible
Dictionary: “Laodicea was
well known in the ancient world for its wealth.
The extent of its wealth is illustrated by the
fact that Laodicea was rebuilt without the
financial help of Rome after the disastrous
earthquake of AD 60. Laodicea earned its wealth
in the textile industry in the production of
black wool and in the banking industry. Laodicea
was also known for its medical school, which
concocted a spice nard for the treatment of ears
and an eyesalve. The major weakness of Laodicea
was its lack of a water supply. This need was
met by bringing water six miles north from
Denizli through a system of stone pipes (another
sign of Laodicea’s wealth). Laodicea is
best known today to readers of Revelation where
Jesus criticized Laodicea, using imagery drawn
from its daily life (Rev. 3:14-22). First, Jesus
said Laodicea is neither cold (like the cold,
pure waters of Colossae) nor hot (like the
therapeutic hot springs of Hierapolis). Laodicea
is lukewarm and provides neither refreshment for
the spiritually weary nor healing for the
spiritually sick (Rev. 3:15-16). Despite their
apparent spiritual uselessness, the Laodiceans
were claiming a spiritual wealth equal to their
material wealth; and further, they were claiming
to have acquired both by their own efforts. In
reality, however, the Laodiceans, while they may
have had material wealth, were spiritually poor,
blind, and naked (Rev. 3:17)--an obvious
reference to the textile and banking industry
and medical school of Laodicea. According to
Jesus, what the Laodiceans needed more than
anything else was the true gold, white (not
black) garments, and eyesalve that only Christ
could give (Rev. 3:18). A true spiritual
foundation is laid only in Christ, not human
effort. The letter of
the risen Christ to the church at Laodicea (Rev.
3:14-22) contains numerous allusions to
conditions in the city. A five-mile-long
aqueduct supplied the city with tepid water that
served as an image for "lukewarm" Christianity
(3:15-16). The Laodicean claim to be rich and
prosperous reflects the self-reliant refusal of
this city to accept Roman aid for rebuilding
after an earthquake of about A.D. 60 (3:17). The
charge that the Laodicean Christians were naked,
blind, and in need of clothing and eyesalve
(3:17-18) reflects the city's well-known school
of ophthalmology and its fine garments of
raven-black wool of local sheep.” In addition to
being a literal city of early Christianity,
Laodicea is a prophetic picture of the Church
Age that began around the turn of the century in
1900, and will continue until the Firstfruits
Rapture of the Church. As shown in the following
exegesis, Laodicea will be “left behind” at the
time of the Firstfruits Rapture. It is important
to identify the church of Laodicea in this final
age of the Church in hopes that some of its
members will come out of this church and become
part of the Philadelphia church. The four
endtime churches are Thyatira, Sardis,
Philadelphia and Laodicea. The church ages of
Ephesus, Smyrna, and Pergamum ended but the four
endtime churches continue and can be identified
based on their characteristics. The church of
Thyatira is the Catholic Church. The church of
Sardis is the Protestant church, represented
primarily by the Presbyterian, Baptist,
Methodist, and Lutheran churches. The
Philadelphia church is so poor and in such a
weakened condition financially that very few
churches that meet in church buildings have the
character of Philadelphia. Philadelphia survives
today in home churches across America, and the
churches of Thyatira, Sardis and Laodicea look
down upon Philadelphia as being financially and
spiritually poor. It is true that Philadelphia
is financially poor because of its unpopularity
and few members, but it is spiritually rich in
accordance with the words of Jesus. It is ironic
that Philadelphia sees itself as being poor, but
Jesus sees it as being spiritually rich because
of its study and reliance upon the Word of God.
The current
Laodicean Church is a self-satisfied, proud and
self-righteous group. It has become wealthy with
material possessions, and the primary emphasis
is on financial matters and organization. There
is a zeal and fervor for organization and works
that are to be seen by men, but very little
communion with God and in-depth Bible study for
the express purpose of knowing God through His
Word. Most of the activities in these churches
today are largely mechanical and of a social
character. Committees and clubs are numerous but
there is an absence of spiritual fervor. We must
make a distinction here between spiritual and
emotional fervor. In contrast to the Sardis
church, which is characterized by cold, dead
formalism, the Laodicean church is caught up in
emotionalism and has confused emotional fervor
with spiritual fervor. This is why Jesus
referred to the church of Laodicea as a
lukewarm. It has made the jump from being cold
and dead like the Sardis church, but its
transition was to emotional fervor rather than
spiritual fervor. The church of
Laodicea sees itself as being spiritually rich,
but it is actually wretched, miserable, poor,
naked and blind, as seen by Jesus Christ. The
key to identifying the endtime church of
Laodicea is to look for the rich church of the
twentieth century that was not in existence in
the nineteenth century. This is not a difficult
task for the seeker of truth. The church of
Laodicea is represented today by the church
movement that began in the post-Civil War period
known as Pentecostalism. The Pentecostal
movement initially ministered to those of
limited means, so it concentrated on the
emotional, psychological and physical needs.
Thus, the gifts of speaking in tongues to attain
to the emotional high, prophesying in the Old
Testament sense of the word for the
psychological high, and healing for the needs of
the physical. Consequently, the emphasis of
Laodicea is on the repairing and fixing-up of
the person emotionally, psychologically, and
physically rather than dying to self and
allowing spiritual growth to take place. The emphasis on
physical needs rather than spiritual needs is
the reason for the concentration on self-help,
wealth, psychology, and emotionally energizing.
Laodicea also seeks after the miraculous to
boost the emotions. Laodicea emphasizes the
reform and patching up of the self instead of
death to self. This is seen in the parable of
the patching of the old wineskin instead of
providing a new wineskin for the new wine. The
new wine is the new spiritual birth via the Holy
Spirit, and we must kill the old self (i.e., get
rid of the old wineskins) and provide new
wineskins (the new man in Christ). It is because
of the emphasis on feelings, emotions, self,
wealth, prosperity, and the like that the
Pentecostal and charismatic movement has matured
into the endtime Laodicean church. It is also
because of the emphasis on emotions that women
have played a predominant role in the endtime
church of Laodicea. The Laodicean church has
many women as pastors, teachers, leaders and
elders. The Word of God is clear on the role of
women in the Church, but Laodicea is more in
tune with the world and the world system than
with the Word of God. We will now
begin our exegesis of the prophetic meaning of
the message of Jesus Christ to the endtime
church of Laodicea. (Rev 3:14 KJV) And unto the angel
of the church of the Laodiceans write; These
things saith the Amen, the faithful and true
witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
Prophetically,
this verse is addressing the endtime church of
Laodicea. The angel of the church is the leaders
of this church. Therefore, the angel or
messenger represents the leaders of the Trinity
Broadcasting Network, the denominational leaders
of the charismatic and Pentecostal churches and
the pastors of these churches. Some of the
denominations that make up Laodicea are the
Church of God, the Assemblies of God, and
numerous other ones that emphasize the sign
gifts of speaking in tongues and healing. There
are also many independent churches that fall in
this camp. It is ironic
that Sardis appeals to the intellect and has
become cold, dead and formal, while Laodicea
appeals to the emotional and has become shallow
and frothy. Philadelphia appeals to those who
seek spiritual depth. Philadelphia has not
abandoned the intellectual and the emotional,
but both are under the control of the Holy
Spirit rather than the old flesh nature.
Philadelphia has put new wine into new wineskins
by dying to self, while both Sardis and Laodicea
have put new wine into old wineskins. The new
wine is the new spirit birth and the new
wineskins are the new man that must be put on in
place of the old man. (Rev 3:15 KJV) I know thy works,
that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would
thou wert cold or hot. Jesus proclaims
his omniscience over the works of Laodicea. He
is a faithful and true witness because of his
omniscience. Therefore, his judgment will be
perfect and just and there will be no appeal
because of the possibility of error. Jesus Christ
warns Laodicea about its lukewarmness. He
prefers coldness to lukewarmness. This is
probably because of the hypocrisy involved in
lukewarmness. Jesus is referring to the true
attitude of the heart here and not the outward
professions. The frothy, shallow Christianity in
charismatic churches and on television and radio
today is not the fervency that Jesus desires.
All the showmanship of falling down in the floor
slain in the spirit, uncontrollable laughter,
wild gibberish, and pseudo healing is primarily
emotional hype. It is not born out of control by
the Holy Spirit, but is designed to appeal to
the flesh and the old prideful nature. Many of
the worship sessions are nothing more than
three-ring circuses and many of the young attend
for the purpose of entertainment and curiosity.
Many of the performers are simply caught up in
emotionally induced states of ecstasy, and they
do bizarre things claiming to be spirit-filled.
(Rev 3:16 KJV) So then because
thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I
will spue thee out of my mouth. This verse
literally means that Jesus will vomit Laodicea
out of his mouth. Since the literal does not
make any sense, we take the figurative meaning
that Jesus will reject the Laodiceans at the
pretribulational Firstfruits Rapture of those
who have been faithful or fervent in watching
and being prepared for the Lord's return.
The rest of this passage confirms this to be the
meaning of this verse. (Rev 3:17
KJV) Because thou sayest, I am rich,
and increased with goods, and have need of
nothing; and knowest not that thou art
wretched, and miserable, and poor, and
blind, and naked: Unfortunately,
the Laodicean Christians of today think they are
living wonderful Christian lives. They have
large luxurious buildings, stained glass
windows, and large land interests. This church
has abundant material possessions, and the
members of this church think this wealth is also
a reflection of their spiritual condition.
Laodicean
Christians are not aware of their true spiritual
condition. Jesus says they are wretched,
miserable, poor, blind and naked. Wretched means
they have not endured the trials proffered to
test them. Miserable means that they are
to be pitied instead of admired. Poor
means they have no spiritual rewards stored up
in heaven. Blind means that they do not
have spiritual insight, which comes from a study
of the Scriptures. Naked means they have not
made the necessary preparation for the wedding
by providing for themselves the wedding garment
of good works. Laodicea has not distinguished
between the works of the flesh and the works of
the Spirit. It is because of these conditions of
the Laodicean church that it will be rejected at
the Firstfruits rapture. This rejection is
actually a merciful act by Jesus, as the
following Scripture confirms that Laodicean
Christians will be given a final opportunity to
rectify their shortcomings in their
spirituality. This rectification will take place
during the first half of the tribulation period.
(Rev 3:18 KJV) I counsel thee to
buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou
mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou
mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy
nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes
with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. After its
rejection prophesied in verse 16 above because
of the spiritual conditions outlined in verse 17
above, Laodicea is counseled in this verse to
make the most of the opportunity in the
tribulation period. Laodicea is counseled to
"buy of me gold," and this means to perform
spiritual works that will deserve a reward at
the Judgment Seat of Christ. "Tried in the fire"
means that these works will be performed during
the severe persecutions of the Church during the
first half of the tribulation period. The
purpose of buying this gold tried in the fire is
so they will no longer be spiritually poor
(i.e., "thou mayest be rich”).Laodicea will
also have a final opportunity to obtain the
wedding garment of good works, so they may be
clothed and not appear naked at the Judgment
Seat of Christ. Laodicean Christians will also
have the opportunity to have their eyes healed
and opened to the truths of Scripture. The
persecutions of the tribulation period will help
the Laodiceans wake up to the truths of
Scripture. It is important
to note that all of these achievements in
spirituality occur after the Lord has rejected
Laodicea at the separation or Firstfruits
Rapture. If this rejection took place at the
Judgment Seat of Christ, then there would be no
additional opportunity to earn spiritual rewards
and be clothed in the wedding garment of good
works. Laodicea will be raptured in the middle
of the tribulation period (See Rev. 7:9-17).
They are the ones "arrayed in white robes"
described in Rev. 7:13. (Rev 3:19
KJV) As many as I love, I rebuke and
chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. This verse
establishes that the Laodiceans are true
believers. Jesus loves them so He will rebuke
and chasten them in the tribulation period.
Jesus cautions them to be zealous and repent of
their sins and the lives they are living. At
present, there is still the possibility of
repentance on the part of individual Laodicean
Christians in time to avoid the tribulation
period, which will be a time of rebuke and
chastisement. However, the reality of the
prophecy is that Laodicea as a whole will
continue in their spiritual poverty, spiritual
nakedness and spiritual blindness. (Rev 3:20
KJV) Behold, I stand at the door, and
knock: if any man hear my voice, and open
the door, I will come in to him, and will
sup with him, and he with me.This verse is
often misinterpreted as pertaining to spirit
salvation in the evangelical sense, but it has
reference to fellowship with Christians who have
already been born again spiritually. Literally,
this verse states that Jesus stands in charge of
the door, and he is knocking on the door for the
Laodicean Christian to hearken and obey his
voice. If the Laodicean Christian heeds the
warning, Jesus will come in and fellowship at
the evening meal, which occurs before midnight
and the midnight cry. In this verse, there is
still time for the Laodicean Christian to repent
and be eligible for the "Open Door." (Rev 3:21 KJV) To him that
overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my
throne, even as I also overcame, and am set
down with my Father in his throne. This verse is
also addressed to the Laodicean church during
the Church Age. It includes the promise to all
that overcome during the present age. The
highest position of reigning and ruling, "in my
throne", is still available to the Laodicean
Christian who is an overcomer. Unfortunately,
the great majority of Laodicean Christians will
remain in their spiritual poverty and be “Left
Behind” at the Firstfruits Rapture. (Rev 3:22
KJV) He that hath an ear, let him hear
what the Spirit saith unto the churches.Verses 17 and
18 above are apparently the only verses in this
passage that are specifically addressed to the
Laodicean church in the tribulation period.
Verse 19 contains the warning about rebuke and
chastisement in the tribulation, and verse 20
states the requirement for avoiding the
tribulation. That requirement is fellowship and
intimacy with the Lord Jesus Christ. Verse 21
contains the overcomers promise to those who do
repent before the Firstfruits Rapture. This verse
contains the universal appeal to all of the
churches to hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches. We know from verses 16-18 that the
great majority of Laodicean Christians will
remain in their state of spiritual blindness and
spiritual nakedness right up until the time that
the Separation takes place and they are “Left
Behind”.